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Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago

Author

Listed:
  • Sabrina C. Curran

    (Ohio University; Athens)

  • Virgil Drăgușin

    (Romanian Academy)

  • Briana Pobiner

    (Smithsonian Institution)

  • Michael Pante

    (Colorado State University)

  • John Hellstrom

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Jon Woodhead

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Roman Croitor

    (Moldova State University)

  • Adrian Doboș

    (Romanian Academy)

  • Samantha E. Gogol

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Vasile Ersek

    (Northumbria University)

  • Trevor L. Keevil

    (Colorado State University)

  • Alexandru Petculescu

    (Romanian Academy)

  • Aurelian Popescu

    (Museum of Oltenia)

  • Chris Robinson

    (Bronx Community College
    City University of New York)

  • Lars Werdelin

    (Swedish Museum of Natural History)

  • Claire E. Terhune

    (University of Arkansas)

Abstract

The timing of the initial dispersal of hominins into Eurasia is unclear. Current evidence indicates hominins were present at Dmanisi, Georgia by 1.8 million years ago (Ma), but other ephemeral traces of hominins across Eurasia predate Dmanisi. However, no hominin remains have been definitively described from Europe until ~1.4 Ma. Here we present evidence of hominin activity at the site of Grăunceanu, Romania in the form of multiple cut-marked bones. Biostratigraphic and high-resolution U-Pb age estimates suggest Grăunceanu is > 1.95 Ma, making this site one of the best-dated early hominin localities in Europe. Environmental reconstructions based on isotopic analyzes of horse dentition suggest Grăunceanu would have been relatively temperate and seasonal, demonstrating a wide habitat tolerance in even the earliest hominins in Eurasia. Our results, presented along with multiple other lines of evidence, point to a widespread, though perhaps intermittent, presence of hominins across Eurasia by at least 2.0 Ma.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabrina C. Curran & Virgil Drăgușin & Briana Pobiner & Michael Pante & John Hellstrom & Jon Woodhead & Roman Croitor & Adrian Doboș & Samantha E. Gogol & Vasile Ersek & Trevor L. Keevil & Alexandru Pe, 2025. "Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56154-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56154-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. R. Garba & V. Usyk & L. Ylä-Mella & J. Kameník & K. Stübner & J. Lachner & G. Rugel & F. Veselovský & N. Gerasimenko & A. I. R. Herries & J. Kučera & M. F. Knudsen & J. D. Jansen, 2024. "East-to-west human dispersal into Europe 1.4 million years ago," Nature, Nature, vol. 627(8005), pages 805-810, March.
    2. Meave G. Leakey & Fred Spoor & M. Christopher Dean & Craig S. Feibel & Susan C. Antón & Christopher Kiarie & Louise N. Leakey, 2012. "New fossils from Koobi Fora in northern Kenya confirm taxonomic diversity in early Homo," Nature, Nature, vol. 488(7410), pages 201-204, August.
    3. Zhaoyu Zhu & Robin Dennell & Weiwen Huang & Yi Wu & Shifan Qiu & Shixia Yang & Zhiguo Rao & Yamei Hou & Jiubing Xie & Jiangwei Han & Tingping Ouyang, 2018. "Hominin occupation of the Chinese Loess Plateau since about 2.1 million years ago," Nature, Nature, vol. 559(7715), pages 608-612, July.
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